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Skid Steer Loaders

This type of loader is commonly used in agriculture,

construction, and general industry for material handling
and excavating. Recent NIOSH studies suggest that
employers, supervisors, and workers might not be
aware of the hazards of operating or working near skid
steer loaders. Therefore, they might not follow safe
work procedures for controlling these hazards.

Here is an Example
Ron and two coworkers were removing a fence (with stakes)
that surrounded a housing development drainage pond.
The loader was being used to pull up the stakes, because
overgrowth around the pond made it difcult to remove
them by hand. As the operator was raising the lift arms to
pull the third stake, the loader tipped forward. To stabilize
the machine, the operator lowered the bucket. At the same
time, Ron (who had been standing in front and to the side
of the loader) slipped and fell beneath the bucket. The
bucket struck him in the chest and he died shortly after from
traumatic chest injuries.

Preventing Injuries from Skid Steer Loaders

Always use and maintain the safety devices provided
by manufacturer:
Interlocked controls
Backup alarms
Seat belts and Roll Over Protective Systems (ROPS)
Operate the loader from the operators compartment, never
from the outside.
s 3TAYSEATEDWHENOPERATINGTHELOADERCONTROLS
s 7ORKWITHTHESEATBELTFASTENEDANDTHERESTRAINTBAR
in place.
s +EEPYOURARMSLEGSANDHEADINSIDETHECABWHILE
operating the loader.
s ,OADUNLOADANDTURNONLEVELGROUNDWHENPOSSIBLE
s +EEPPEOPLECLEARWHENALOADISBEINGLIFTED
s /PERATEONSTABLESURFACESONLY

1. How could this accident have been avoided?

2. What are some of the dangers of working with loaders?

s .EVERGOOVERTHEMANUFACTURERSRECOMMENDEDLOAD
capacity for the machine.

What Are We Going to Do Today?

What will we do here at the worksite today to prevent injuries from skid steer loaders?
1.

2.

OSHA STANDARDS: 1926.600 and Section 5(a)(1) of the OSHA Act

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